Polugaevsky Explains Incredible Chess Novelty - Best of the 1980s - Polgaevsky vs. Torre, 1981
In today's game and vide, Lev Polugaevsky shows off one of the most brilliant chess opening ideas ever played, his positional rook sacrifice against Eugenio Torre in the famed Botvinnik Variation of the Semi-Slav!
Polugaevsky explains the genesis of this idea (which occurred four years before he was able to play it) and clearly explains the ramifications and missed opportunities that ensue!
Top 10 Games of the 1980s
- #1: ???
- #2: ???
- #3: Polugaevsky vs. Torre, 1981
- #4: Portisch vs. Pinter, 1984 (blog)
- #5: Tal vs. Hjartarson, 1987 (blog)
- #6: van de Loo vs. Hesseling, 1983 (blog)
- #7: Korchnoi vs. Karpov, 1981 (blog)
- #8: Smirin vs. Beliavsky, 1989 (blog)
- #9: Kasparov vs. Petrosian, 1981 (blog)
- #10: Beliavsky vs. Nunn, 1985 (blog)
- See also: Top 10 of the 1990s, Top 10 of the 2000s, and Top 10 of the 2010s
The major new idea in this game is Polugaevsky's idea to remain down a full rook and play 17.h4!! and 18.f4!! His pawn chain is then so dominant that Torre can hardly activate any pieces. To free his position, Torre gives back a knight when Polgaevsky should be winning, but Torre received and missed a fantastic chance to save the game with 35...d3!!
Lessons:
- Make sure to cook up your chess novelties 4 years in advance
- Pieces that are restricted have only theoretical value.
- Don't let up at the end!
Annotations are below. The quotes come from Polugaevsky's excellent book, Grandmaster Performance. It's well worth a read!
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